What Does it Take to Be an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher?
Occupation Description Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.
Daily Life Of an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher
- Inspect or test cleantech or green technology parts, products, or installations, such as fuel cells, solar panels, or air quality devices, for conformance to specifications or standards.
- Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.
- Make minor adjustments to equipment, such as turning setscrews to calibrate instruments to required tolerances.
- Adjust, clean, or repair products or processing equipment to correct defects found during inspections.
- Read blueprints, data, manuals, or other materials to determine specifications, inspection and testing procedures, adjustment methods, certification processes, formulas, or measuring instruments required.
- Interpret legal requirements, provide safety information, or recommend compliance procedures to contractors, craft workers, engineers, or property owners.
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Qualities of an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher
These are the skills Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers say are the most useful in their careers:
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Related Job Titles
- Bottle Sorter
- Checker
- Coloring Checker
- Linen Checker
- Brick Tester
Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher Employment Estimates
There were about 520,700 jobs for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher. The BLS estimates 52,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher are Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher
The average yearly salary of an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher ranges between $23,550 and $65,510.

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers who work in Alaska, District of Columbia, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $34,960 |
Alaska | $71,510 |
Arizona | $40,680 |
Arkansas | $33,900 |
California | $45,120 |
Colorado | $46,880 |
Connecticut | $51,260 |
Delaware | $41,030 |
District of Columbia | $60,460 |
Florida | $40,250 |
Georgia | $37,880 |
Hawaii | $36,960 |
Idaho | $37,410 |
Illinois | $41,610 |
Indiana | $39,580 |
Iowa | $42,490 |
Kansas | $44,850 |
Kentucky | $39,510 |
Louisiana | $50,670 |
Maine | $46,140 |
Maryland | $48,650 |
Massachusetts | $46,510 |
Michigan | $36,550 |
Minnesota | $42,470 |
Mississippi | $35,850 |
Missouri | $42,860 |
Montana | $48,630 |
Nebraska | $41,820 |
Nevada | $39,850 |
New Hampshire | $44,020 |
New Jersey | $42,770 |
New Mexico | $54,690 |
New York | $42,580 |
North Carolina | $37,370 |
North Dakota | $52,620 |
Ohio | $41,510 |
Oklahoma | $45,060 |
Oregon | $43,540 |
Pennsylvania | $41,850 |
Rhode Island | $44,660 |
South Carolina | $39,110 |
South Dakota | $36,250 |
Tennessee | $37,380 |
Texas | $42,500 |
Utah | $39,450 |
Vermont | $45,840 |
Virginia | $41,500 |
Washington | $59,310 |
West Virginia | $45,630 |
Wisconsin | $40,750 |
Wyoming | $51,380 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- IBM Notes
- FileMaker Pro
- Extensible markup language XML
- R
- Minitab
- Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- Medical condition coding software
How to Become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher
What education or degrees do I need to become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher?

Who Employs Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers?

Below are examples of industries where Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers work:

Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, or Weigher in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Gina Collecchia via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
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